Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame

We had another wonderful Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this morning. Many of our current members of our Hall of fame were in attendance, which we were very thankful for.

Here are some photos from our ceremony.

Today, we introduce the final member of our 2024 Class of Hall of Fame Inductees, Dale Carey.

Dale Carey - Class of 2010

Dale Carey was a member of the Wheeler baseball team for four years, and he also played football for the Wildcats for three years. During his senior year, he played centerfield and batted .398 with six home runs. Dale was named to Team Georgia twice, participating in the Sunbelt Classic in Oklahoma, was a member of Team USA, and was recognized by the Atlanta Braves 400 Club as one the top players in Georgia. Dale was named Pre- Season All American by Baseball America and ESPN. The Major League Scouts Association stated that Dale was the #2 player in the state of Georgia. In 2010, he was named Player of the Year, he was selected for two All Region Teams and All Cobb County Teams. He was also named to the Georgia Dugout Club All State Team. About Wheeler, Dale said, “The academics and athletics at Wheeler helped me to grow into the man I am today. Wheeler had the environment that helps all to find success in life.”

Dale was taken in the MLB draft by the Pittsburg Pirates at the end of his Senior year. Dale, however, accepted a scholarship to the University of Miami. At Miami, he was named to the 2014 ACC second team, 2014 All-Atlantic Team, and the ACC Championship All-tournament team. During an NCAA Regional Tournament in Gainesville, Dale made a diving catch that ESPN named the Best of the Best for four straight weeks. Dale earned a Liberal Arts Degree from Miami.

Once again, Dale was drafted, this time by the Washington Nationals. He played professional baseball for six seasons. After his career, Dale became a member of the Marist High School Baseball staff, winning a GHSA State Championship in 2021. He also coached the Marist Girls Softball team. This past summer, Dale accepted a coaching position at Georgia Gwinnett College, the NAIA NationalChampions. Dale’s parents are Dale and Kim Carey, and he has one sister, Kaisha. While at Wheeler, Dale developed lifelong friends, and they helped each other to reach the goals they wanted to achieve.

Today, we are introducing our fourth member of this year's class of inductees to our Hall of Fame, Jermareo Davidson.

Jermareo Davidson - Class of 2003

Jermareo played basketball at Wheeler for one season until his graduation in 2003. During his Senior Year he broke the single season blocks record, as well as the record for rebounds. That year, Wheeler also won its 3rd State Championship. Jermareo was selected to play in the prestigious Michael Jordan High School All American game.

Upon graduation, Jermareo played at the University of Alabama, wherehe played until 2007. During his career at Alabama, Jermareo made the All-Freshman SEC team (2003-2004), the 3rd Team All-SEC (2004-2005), and the 2nd team All-SEC (2005-2006). During several seasons, he was among SEC leaders in rebounds, blocks, field goals, and number of games played, to name a few.

Following graduation, Jermareo was drafted with the number 36 pick in the NBA Draft by Golden State. He was then named by the NBA to the 2007 Summer League All-Pro Second Team. He played for Golden State and Charlotte in the USA, and then played internationally in Turkey, Puerto Rico, Germany, and Saudi Arabia.

Currently, Jermareo is working as a certified naturopathic doctor and serving the vegan community.

As we move closer to our Hall of Fame Ceremonies this weekend, today we spotlight the third of our inductees, Matt Haynes.

Matt Haynes - Class of '85

As a freshman, on the first day of track practice in the Spring of 1982, Coach Robertson addressed the group asking anyone that had an interest in pole vaulting to meet over by the pole vaulting pit after warm-ups and conditioning. Kevin Forrester and Tony Quince who were sitting on either side and said, “You have the arms for it, why don’t you give it a try. ”Who was to know anything would ever come of it?

After setting a new Wheeler freshman pole vaulting record, and winning the Cobb JV County Meet, with Steve Brown just one jump behind, the Wheeler pole vaulting “dynasty,” that started with Randy Eaton and David Swanson four years earlier was reborn. Over the next three years, Matt broke the rest of Randy Eaton’s Wheeler pole vaulting records, along with a few meet records.

As a sophomore, Matt placed 2nd in the Track State Championship meet, losing first place only based on the number of misses at a lower height. He won State his junior year, and barely missed setting a new State record at 14’2”. His senior year, he missed a jump at 14’2” hitting the bar on the way up and lost to Glenn Sikes, placing 2nd at State. Matt had cleared 14’7” earlier in the season, and just missed a jump at 15’0” during a meet at Wheeler just before the region relays.The final standings that year were Glenn Sikes, Matt Haynes, and Steve Brown. The Atlanta pole vaulting circle was tight in the mid-80s and Matt, Steve, and Glenn used to jump together at Emory during the off-season. Steve went on to pole vault for Auburn, and Glenn went on to Georgia. Matt was nominated as Atlanta Track Club Pole Vaulter of the Year in 1983 and 1984.

Matt participated and excelled in several other sports at Wheeler. As a sophomore, he joined the wrestling team and won the JV Cobb County title in the 167lbs. weight class. He played football and lettered three years in football and all four years in track.

Matt accepteda track scholarship at Georgia Tech and set a new indoor pole vault record his freshman year. He placed in both the indoor and outdoor ACC conference meets and was a Georgia Tech letterman.

Matt and his wife Helen, who also attended Wheeler, live in Canton, Georgia.

Today, we are introducing our next member of the 2024 Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class, Coach Terry Poor.

Terry Poor - Class of 1968

Terry Poor entered Wheeler High School in the Fall of 1965, as a member of Wheeler’s inaugural 10th grade class. Active in student activities and athletics, Terry served in various student government positions, and was a three sport letterman during his high school tenure.

During his three years at Wheeler, Terry played inevery football game as a starter on both offense and defense. His senior year, Terry, along with fellow Wheeler Hall of Fame inductee, Barry Parker, was selected by his teammates as a permanent captain for the WHS Football Team. Upon graduation from Wheeler, Terry attended Furman University on a Football scholarship.

After graduating college, Terry returned to Wheeler to teach and coach. As an assistant coach on Corky Kell’s football staff, he first coached junior varsity football for two undefeated seasons before being elevated to defensive coordinator for thevarsity football team which was a perennial State playoff contender. Terry’s other primary sport was baseball where he served as Coach Jim Mau’s assistant for several very successful seasons, including a State Championship. Terry completed his education career serving as an administrator in both the Marietta and Cobb County school systems.

Terry and his wife, Cynthia, also a Wheeler graduate, reside in Marietta. They have two grown children, Heather, an Associate Athletic Director at Belmont University, and Hicks, a former four year football letterman for Auburn University. Additionally, Terry and Cynthia are the proud grandparents of four granddaughters.

Our Hall of Fame Ceremonies are coming up next weekend, January 19 & 20 and we are excited to introduce our 2024 Hall of Fame Class to you.

Our first member of the Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame is Ray Stang.

Ray Stang - Class of 1968

Ray enrolled at Wheeler High School as a Junior in 1966 when his family moved to Marietta from Northern Virginia. Ray began swimming competitively at an early age, representing his community pool. Later, representing the 11/12age group for the District of Columbia AAU, Ray’s 4x50 Relay Team set an Area record in that event. Upon Ray’s family’s moving to Marietta, Ray swam for the Northside YMCA of Atlanta and then the Atlanta Swimming Association. He was coached by Peter Higgins, a legendary State and National coach from the Westminster Schools Swim Team.

During Ray’s tenure at Wheeler, there was no Wheeler Swim Team until he represented the school in the Georgia High School Swimming Championships. In the 1967 State Champion Meet, Ray finished 2nd in the 100 yard Breaststroke.In the 1968 Championship Meet, Ray finished 1st in the 100 Yard Breaststroke, becoming Wheeler’s first state champion in any athletic competition. He also finished 3rd in the 100 Yard Freestyle. Ray’s achievements earned the Wheeler HS Swim Team a 7th place finish in the State for the 1967-68 school year, and Ray WAS the swim team, as he was the only swimmer!

Ray was also a member of the Track Team, achieving Region Championship in the Shot Put competition. After graduation, Ray continued swimming at the University of Georgia where he represented the school in the 1969 and 1970 NCAA championships.

We are excited to announce that we will be inducting the 2024 Hall of Fame Class into the Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 20. In the next few days ahead, we will be introducing you to the new members of this year's Hall of Fame class.

The weekend festivities will begin on Friday, January 19, as we will introduce the class members in between the Girls and Boys Basketball Games vs. Kennesaw Mountain High School. This will take place around 7:20.

Saturday morning, doors will open at 9:00, with our Breakfast starting at 9:30. Our Induction Ceremony will begin at 10:00. Tickets for the breakfast and ceremony will be $10. To reserve your spot, scan the QR Code on the graphics and pay $10 via PayPal and note that it is for the Hall of Fame Breakfast. You can also pay at the door Saturday morning. For any questions, contact Brittny Jones at [email protected].

We had some trouble with the Google Page, showing the Hall of Fame Ceremonies from two weeks ago. Now the video is viewable through YouTube. We hope you enjoy the speeches.

Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Ceremony

Thank you Cobb County Schools for recognizing our 2023 Hall of Fame Class.

Wheeler Welcomes Four New Members to Sports Hall of Fame Wheeler Welcomes Four New Members to Sports Hall of Fame

Wildcat Nation, don't forget that this weekend is our 2023 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Our class will be introduced in between the Girls and Boys Basketball Games on Friday night, around 7:15. Then, Saturday morning, we will have our Induction Ceremony at 10:15. Breakfast starts at 9:30. Cost is $10 and we'd love to have you join us for a great time together honoring the Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Class Members include Kenny Bellah, Katie Kochman Welsch, Evan Mitchell and Foster Joiner.

Today, we are introducing our final member of our 2023 Hall of Fame Class. The category that this new member is being inducted in is not as an athlete, but as a fan. A super fan. This newest member is being inducted posthumously. Foster Joiner is the last member of our 2023 Hall of Fame Class.

Foster Joiner III (1978 - 1981)

Foster’s family moved from Macon to Marietta and Foster began attending Wheeler High School at the start if his Sophomore year. It was while Foster was a student at Wheeler that his love for his school began. Coach Corky Kell had just handed over the football program over to Coach Jimmy Austin, and Foster was at every football game. Our Girls Basketball team had a rising star and future All-American, Kate Brandt, and Foster soon became a huge Wheeler Girls Basketball fan. All throughout high school, Foster was supportive of all of the athletic teams at Wheeler, but it wasn’t until Foster Graduated from Wheeler that his “legend status” developed.

After Graduating from Wheeler in 1981, Foster attended West Georgia College for one year and then transferred to Kennesaw College in 1982. Moving back home allowed Foster to be able to continue his support of all the Wheeler Sports. Initially, Foster was known to be found at all the football games, and most of the softball, basketball and baseball games, as his work schedule allowed him. He was a big supporter of the 1983 & 1984 Softball State Championship teams.

Through the years, Foster also became a big supporter of the Boys and Girls Soccer teams. For over 40 years, Foster was a loyal, die-hard fan of Wheeler Athletics. Foster attended, conservatively, between 1,000 1,500 Wheeler sporting events in his lifetime. He was known by the coaches and players, alike. Foster would engage with coaches and players after their games to give his own analysis of how the game went. His passion was evident to all that he engaged with. Foster was known to engage with fans before, during and after the games to share his knowledge of the team and its players. Foster was a legend of Wheeler High School.

Foster passed away on January 28, 2022. A scholarship has been started in his memory for a Wheeler High School student that displays school spirit and loyalty to Wheeler Athletics.

As we move closer to our Hall of Fame Ceremonies next weekend, today we spotlight one of our inductees, Katie Kochman Welsch.

Katie Kochman Welsch (1996 - 200)

Katie Kochman Welsch began her swimming career at the age of 4 in Louisiana. She and her family moved to Marietta when she was 6, and Katie continued swimming She broke a number of national age group records in her 9/10 year old competitions, and it took eleven years before one of her records was broken nationally – but it still stands in Georgia. During this time, she was a Junior Nationals Qualifier.

Katie joined the Wheeler High School swim team in the 1996-97 school year—a team she would captain her senior year. While at WHS, Katie was a member of Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Latin Club, and she was the Marietta Daily Journal’s Swimmer of the Year in 2000, as well as the Cobb Swim Coaches Association’s Swimmer of the Year. She said her most meaningful award was winning WHS’s Matt Lee Award, since she grew up swimming with Matt.

Katie parlayed her success at Wheeler into a swimming scholarship at East Carolina University where she went on to break the freshman 100-yard butterfly record and serve as team captain. She was named Outstanding Rookie of the Year her Freshman Year, and she was the Iron Pirate Award recipient. As in high school, Katie was a member of a number of academic honor rolls and honor societies.

Katie married fellow Wheeler High graduate and swimmer Tim Welsch. She now cheers for her 9-year-old son Griffin, who last year swam to state summer league swimming titles, and she watches 6-year-old son Bode excel in baseball. And on it goes!

Today, we are introducing Evan Mitchell, our next member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class.

Evan Mitchell (2006 - 2010)

During his tenure at Wheeler, Evan lettered in basketball twice, and he was also a member of FCA, the Leadership Club, and FBLA. It was for baseball, however, that he distinguished himself the greatest. He lettered all four years, and during his sophomore year Evan was named Outstanding Pitcher and Most Improved Player, he was named MVP for his Junior season, and during his Senior Season he was named Best Defensive Player. He was also chosen for the All-Region Team for three years.

Upon graduation, Evan was awarded a scholarship to Mississippi State University and earned a B.A. in business finance. His pitching career at MSU was also decorated. He was a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2012, and he was a member of the 2011 NCAA All-Tournament Team. During his career, he played the role of a starter, as well as a long relief pitcher, and he pitched in the College World Series in Omaha. In June of 2013, Evan was signed by the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he played at different levels for four years. In 2015, he chosen as an All Star for the Florida State League All Star Game, and he played for Cincinnati in 2017. He professional career spanned seven years, and he retired from the MLB after the 2019 season.

Our Hall of Fame Ceremonies are coming up next weekend, January 27 & 28 and we are excited to introduce you to our newest members this week.

Our first member of the Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 is Kenny Bellah.

Kenny Bellah (1973 - 1976)
Kenny came to Wheeler as a 10th grader in the Fall of 1973, and he immediately established himself as a starting Linebacker and an integral member of a very strong Wheeler football program coached by Corky Kell. Kenny was a three-year starter on Wheeler teams that compiled 34 wins and only 3 losses during that three-year period, with one of those losses being in the 1973 State Championship game and the second in the 1974 State Semi-Final game.

During Kenny’s three-year tenure at Wheeler, he was twice named to both the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Marietta Daily Journal All Cobb County teams. Several years later when the Atlanta Journal Constitution began its program of naming teams of the decades, Kenny was not only named to the AJC Football Team of the 1970s, and he was selected as Defensive Player of the Decade!

Kenny’s football skills were recognized with a scholarship to Western Carolina University.

Kenny and his wife Debbie, also a Wheeler graduate, currently reside in Dawsonville, Georgia.

We are excited to announce that we will be inducting the 2023 Hall of Fame Class into the Wheeler High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 28. Next week, we will be introducing you to this year's class.

The weekend festivities will begin on Friday, January 27, as we will introduce the class members in between the Girls and Boys Games vs. North Cobb. This will take place around 7:20.

Saturday morning, doors will open at 9:00, with our Breakfast starting at 9:30. Our Induction Ceremony will begin at 10:15. Tickets for the breakfast and ceremony will be $10. Please RSVP with Brittny Jones at [email protected].